What does the data really show about literacy in America? Nearly 14% of adults can’t read beyond a fifth-grade level, and half of U.S. adults struggle with books written at an eighth-grade level. Among students, only about 30% are reading proficiently and recent scores reveal the lowest performance in three decades.
In this episode, Kyle S. King unpacks the crisis behind the numbers and shares practical, inspiring ways to build a true culture of reading. From the story of his son Carter learning new words, to strategies that blend student interests with reading practice, Kyle shows how small, consistent steps, like choosing texts that connect to students’ passions, reading aloud, and celebrating progress, can transform reading from a task into a habit.
Drawing parallels between training for an ultramarathon and developing literacy, this conversation reminds us that readers aren’t born overnight—they’re built, one page, one word, one choice at a time.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make reading stick in classrooms, homes, or communities, this episode will give you the data, the stories, and the strategies to help create lifelong readers.
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